PALMETTO, Fla. — How do you raise $350,000 in an afternoon? Put on a charity race with amateurs and professional drivers, but put them in tiny versions of their car and watch the fun.

What You Need To Know

  • Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am at Andersen Racepark raised nearly $350,000 

  • The event has been part of St. Pete Grand Prix celebrations for 13 years

  • Amateur and professional driving teams race to raise money for John Hopkins All Children's Hospital

  • The race began as tribute to the late Dan Wheldon, Indy 500 and St. Pete Grand Prix winner

It’s called Kart 4 Kids, part of the St. Pete Grand Prix, raising money for the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Pete for 13 years.

North Tampa resident Chad Reel is living a car lover’s dream, thanks to Kart 4 Kids. He’s rubbing shoulders with world-class racers who probably love the scene at Andersen Racepark in Palmetto as much as they do.

“I was fortunate enough to have a Trans Am as my first car, and then, from then on out, it’s always been sports cars,” said Reel.

Reel, a retired U.S. Coast Guard mechanic, says the karts are akin to his most raw car.

“So, I would say something similar to this old Corvette that I used to have,” said Reel.

Karting is a return to the beginning for many professional racers, including Reel’s team pro, James French.

“Started karts when I was 5,” said French.

Reel will be the last amateur to race before a final leg by the pros.

What’s French’s advice?

“We’re going to go basically like you’re playing Xbox, hard turn, hard turn,” said Reel, suiting up with a neck brace and helmet.

Reel is part of Team 1, running a solid 5th place in a crowded field. But now rain is on the track.

“Oh, it was so much harder than I thought it was going to be,” Reel said after his race. He felt he could have done more for the team.

“Every turn I thought I had it, and then it would spin out. I mean, I passed some people, but they were going really slow,” said Reel.

But French has a totally different take.

“They did great, they did great. I think the conditions obviously got tricky for us — not the standard driving situation,” said French. “Mother Nature threw us a curveball, but they did awesome.”

Reel is redeemed — 5th place is fine, and because of all of them, some sick kids and their families will get a little more help.

The race began as a tribute to INDYCAR driver Dan Wheldon, a British racer who became a St. Petersburg resident.

Weldon won the Indy 500 and St. Pete Grand Prix before a racing accident took his life in 2011.